From Paul Ehrlich’s failed predictions to Julian Simon’s winning bet, this analysis explores how human ingenuity outpaces fears of scarcity. Kevin Freeman contrasts third-party payer health care with first-party market dynamics, highlighting incentives, costs, and outcomes. Historical case studies — from the Pilgrims to Venezuela vs. Poland — illustrate why private property and free markets drive prosperity. The takeaway is to align incentives, protect property rights, and let markets allocate scarce resources.